Shelving unit and fixing member for a shelving unit

ABSTRACT

A backing plate for receiving a fastener to secure a horizontal support member to a vertical support member of a shelving unit. The horizontal support member is securable at any one of multiple vertical locations along the vertical support. The vertical support has a linear array of at least two evenly spaced apertures at the one of the vertical locations, and the backing plate has a corresponding linear array of at least two evenly spaced fixing points. At least one fixing point of the backing plate includes a projection for occupying a corresponding one of the apertures in the vertical support.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The present invention relates generally to so-called “knock-down” typeshelving units that are shipped in a relatively compact form, and can beassembled by the user with selection of vertical height and distancebetween the shelf members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided ashelving unit comprising a horizontal support member, a horizontalsupport member and a fastener for securing the horizontal support memberto the horizontal support member, the horizontal support member beingsecurable at any one of a plurality of vertical locations along thelength of the vertical support, the vertical support having a lineararray of at least two evenly spaced apertures at said vertical location,the shelving unit including a backing plate having a correspondinglinear array of at least two evenly spaced fixing points wherein atleast one fixing point includes a projection to occupy a correspondingone of the apertures, the horizontal support having a support flangewith a fixing aperture, and a fastener that in use secure the fixingaperture.

Preferably, the vertical support has at least three evenly spacedapertures at said vertical location, the backing plate has acorresponding linear array of at least three evenly spaced fixing pointswherein at least one fixing point includes a projection to occupy acorresponding one of the apertures, the horizontal support flange hastwo evenly spaced fixing apertures and bolts that in use secure thefixing apertures, apertures and fixing points not occupied by theprojection.

Preferably, the projection remains in place during fixing of thehorizontal and vertical supports.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided abacking plate for securing a horizontal member to a vertical member of ashelving unit, the backing plate having a linear array of at least threeevenly spaced fixing points wherein at least one fixing point includes aprojection to occupy an aperture in one of the horizontal member orvertical member.

Further aspect of the invention will be come apparent from the followingdescription which is given by way of example only to illustrate theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a shelving unit,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of section A of FIG. 1 showing details of afirst embodiment of a connection between a horizontal shelf supportmember and a vertical shelf support member,

FIG. 3 is a top section view of the first connection between thehorizontal shelf support member and the vertical shelf support member,

FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of a first embodiment of a fixingplate of the first connection between the horizontal shelf supportmember and the vertical shelf support member;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of section B of FIG. 1 showing details of asecond embodiment of a connection between a horizontal shelf supportmember and a vertical shelf support member,

FIG. 7 is a frontal perspective view of a second embodiment of a fixingplate for the second connection between the horizontal shelf supportmember and the vertical shelf support member;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a side section view of a third embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 10 is a side section view of a fourth embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 11 is a side section view of a fifth embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 12 is a side section view of a sixth embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 13 is a side section view of a seventh embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 14 is a side section view of a eighth embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 15 is a side section view of a ninth embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 16 is a side section view of a tenth embodiment of a fixing plateaccording to the invention,

FIG. 17 is a side section view of an eleventh embodiment of a fixingplate according to the invention,

FIG. 18 is a frontal perspective view of the first fixing plate showingenvironmental conditions,

FIG. 18 is a frontal perspective view of the second fixing plate showingenvironmental conditions,

FIG. 20 is a frontal perspective view of the first fixing plate for aconnection between a horizontal shelf support member and a verticalshelf support member;

FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 20,

FIG. 22 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 20,

FIG. 23 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 20,

FIG. 24 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 20,

FIG. 25 is a second side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 20,

FIG. 26 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 20,

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 20,

FIG. 28 is a frontal perspective view of the second fixing plate for aconnection between a horizontal shelf support member and a verticalshelf support member;

FIG. 29 is a rear perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 28,

FIG. 30 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 28,

FIG. 31 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 28,

FIG. 32 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 28, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 33 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 28,

FIG. 34 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 28,

FIG. 35 is a frontal perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of afixing plate, according to the invention, for a connection between ahorizontal shelf support member and a vertical shelf support member;

FIG. 36 is a rear perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 35,

FIG. 37 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 35,

FIG. 38 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 35,

FIG. 39 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 35, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 40 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 35,

FIG. 41 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 35,

FIG. 42 is a rear perspective view of the third fixing plate, of FIG. 9,for a connection between a horizontal shelf support member and avertical shelf support member;

FIG. 43 is a front perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 42,

FIG. 44 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 42,

FIG. 45 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 42,

FIG. 46 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 42, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 47 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 42,

FIG. 48 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 42,

FIG. 49 is a rear perspective view of the fifth fixing plate, of FIG.11, for a connection between a horizontal shelf support member and avertical shelf support member;

FIG. 50 is a front perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 49,

FIG. 51 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 49,

FIG. 52 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 49,

FIG. 53 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 49, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 54 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 49,

FIG. 55 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 49,

FIG. 56 is a frontal perspective view of the fourth fixing plate, ofFIG. 10, for a connection between a horizontal shelf support member anda vertical shelf support member;

FIG. 57 is a rear perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 56,

FIG. 58 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 56,

FIG. 59 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 56,

FIG. 60 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 56, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 61 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 56,

FIG. 62 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 56,

FIG. 63 is a rear perspective view of the thirteenth embodiment of afixing plate for a connection between a horizontal shelf support memberand a vertical shelf support member;

FIG. 64 is a front perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 63,

FIG. 65 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 63,

FIG. 66 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 63,

FIG. 67 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 63, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 68 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 63,

FIG. 69 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 63,

FIG. 70 is a rear perspective view of the sixth fixing plate, of FIG.12, for a connection between a horizontal shelf support member and avertical shelf support member;

FIG. 71 is a front perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 70,

FIG. 72 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 70,

FIG. 73 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 70,

FIG. 74 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 70, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 75 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 70,

FIG. 76 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 70,

FIG. 77 is a rear perspective view of the seventh fixing plate, of FIG.13, for a connection between a horizontal shelf support member and avertical shelf support member;

FIG. 78 is a front perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 77,

FIG. 79 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 77,

FIG. 80 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 77,

FIG. 81 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 77, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 82 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 77,

FIG. 83 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 77,

FIG. 84 is a rear perspective view of the ninth fixing plate, of FIG.15, for a connection between a horizontal shelf support member and avertical shelf support member;

FIG. 85 is a front perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 84,

FIG. 86 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 84,

FIG. 87 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 84,

FIG. 88 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 84, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 89 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 84,

FIG. 90 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 84,

FIG. 91 is a rear perspective view of the eighth fixing plate, of FIG.14, for a connection between a horizontal shelf support member and avertical shelf support member;

FIG. 92 is a front perspective view of the fixing plate of FIG. 91,

FIG. 93 is a front view of the fixing plate of FIG. 91,

FIG. 94 is a rear view of the fixing plate of FIG. 91,

FIG. 95 is a first side view of the fixing plate of FIG. 91, the secondside being a mirror image,

FIG. 96 is a top view of the fixing plate of FIG. 91,

FIG. 97 is a bottom view of the fixing plate of FIG. 91,

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following description is given by way of example only to illustratethe invention and is not intended to limit the scope of use offunctionality of the invention. In particular, the invention is notlimited in its application to the exact details of construction and thearrangements of elements set forth in the following description orillustrated in the accompanying drawings. A skilled person willappreciate that the invention is capable of being practiced in otherembodiments or carried out in various other ways.

In FIG. 1 there is shown by way of example a typical shelving unitassembled according to embodiments of the present invention. Such ashelving unit has a modular construction consisting of at least fourvertical corner support members 12 a-d although more vertical supportsmay be provided depending on the size (e.g. length) and loadingrequirements of the shelving unit. At each end of the shelving unitrespective pairs of front and back vertical corner support members 12a-b and 12 c-d and connected by horizontal end support members 14 a-cand 14 d-f respectively forming end modules. The end modules areconnected together by front and back horizontal support members 21 a-dand 20 a-d. Respective pairs of front and back horizontal supportmembers, for example 20 a-21 a, 20 b-21 b, 20 c-21 c and 20 d-21 d, arespaced vertically to support between each vertically spaced pair 20 a-21a, 20 b-21 b, 20 c-21 c and 20 d-21 d a respective shelf 18 a, 18 b, 18c and 18 d. The shelving unit may be braced by diagonal bracing members16 a and 16 b as necessary. The present invention relates to such ashelving unit in which at least the vertical support members 12 a-b andfront and back horizontal support members 21 a-d and 20 a-d are madefrom folded, extruded, cast or similarly formed mild steel.

Respective pairs of front and back horizontal support members, forexample 20 a-21 a, 20 b-21 b, 20 c-21 c and 20 d-21 d, are spacedvertically to support between each vertically spaced pair 20 a-21 a, 20b-21 b, 20 c-21 c and 20 d-21 d a respective shelf 18 a, 18 b, 18 c and18 d. The vertical corner support members 12 a-d are folded, extruded,cast or similarly formed mild steel C-section (C-shaped) posts having afront face although the vertical corner support members 12 a-d may haveother section shapes such as I-section, T-section or X-section. Theedges of the front face are drilled with a plurality of verticallyspaced vertical-support apertures. The ends of the front and backhorizontal support members 21 a-d and 20 a-d have respective flanges.The flanges are drilled with a pair of correspondingly spaced apartflanges apertures. The vertical height and distance between the shelfmembers 18 a-d can be chosen during assembly of the shelving unit 10 byaligning the pairs of flanges apertures on each flange with any adjacentpair of the plurality of vertically spaced vertical-support apertures ona vertical corner support member 12 a-d and securing the flange to thevertical corner support member 12 a-d by passing a fastener through thealigned apertures and securing the fasteners to a movable fixing plate.

FIGS. 2 through 5 shows a first embodiment of a connection between ahorizontal shelf support member 20 a-d, 21 a-d and a vertical shelfsupport member 12 a-d. The front face 22 of the substantially C-sectionvertical shelf support member 12 a-d has a plurality of verticallyspaced vertical-support apertures 24 a-f drilled at vertical intervals Ialong at least one of its edges 23 a or 23 b. Preferable both edges 23 aand 23 b are so drilled with apertures for greater versatility andinterchangeability of the vertical shelf support members 12 a-d. In theillustration of FIG. 2 not all apertures are labelled 24 for clarity ofthe drawings. Preferably the vertical shelf support members 12 a-d aredrilled at intervals long the entire length of its front edges 23 a-bfor increased choice and utility, however in some embodiments aplurality of regions may be drilled with a plurality of apertures. Inthe preferred embodiment for example there may be only three evenlyspaced apertures at each vertical location. The ends of the front andback horizontal support members 21 a-d and 20 a-d have respectiveflanges 25. The flanges 25 are drilled with a pair of correspondinglyspaced apart flange apertures 26 a-b such that the flanges apertures 26a-b may align with any two of the plurality of vertical-supportapertures 24 a-f.

During assembly of the shelving unit the vertical height and distancebetween the shelf members 18 a-d can be chosen by aligning the pairs offlanges apertures with any adjacent pair of the plurality of verticallyspaced vertical-support apertures. The horizontal support members 21 a-dand 20 a-d are secured to a vertical corner support member 12 a-d bypassing fasteners 27 a-b through the aligned flange apertures 26 a-b andchosen pair vertical-support apertures 24 h-i and securing the fastenersto a movable fixing plate 32 which locates within the C-section of thevertical support member 12 behind the vertical-support apertures in thefront face 22. The movable fixing plate 32 has a corresponding lineararray of three evenly spaced fixing points 28 and 29 a-b. One of thefixing points 28 includes a projection pin to occupy a vertical-supportaperture 24 g immediately above the chosen pair vertical-supportapertures 24 h-i aligned or to be aligned with the flange apertures 26a-b. The remaining two fixing points 29 a-b comprises fixing aperturesbacked by threaded fixing nuts 30 a-b. The threaded fixing nuts 30 a-bare attached to the fixing plate 32 by welding or similar means. Thefixing apertures 29 a-b and corresponding threaded fixing nuts 30 a-balign with the flange apertures 26 a-b and chosen pair ofvertical-support apertures 24 h-l not occupied by the projection pin 28.Fasteners 27 pass through the aligned flange apertures 26 a-b and chosenpair vertical-support apertures 24 h-i and threadably secure withcorresponding fixing nuts 30 a-b of the movable fixing plate 32. Thefixing plate 32 can advantageously be moved to any of the plurality ofvertically spaced vertical-support apertures 24 a-f to accommodate thechoice of vertical height and distance between the shelf members 18 a-dduring assembly of the shelving unit 10.

The fixing plate 32 ameliorates any difficulty in securing the fasteners27 by individual nuts which can be fiddly to start the thread andrequire two hands to secures and tighten. The projection pin holds thefixing plate in place during assembly of the shelving unit amelioratingthe requirement for two hands to secure the fasteners 27. The movablefixing plate 32 also avoids the need and expense for a fixed nut forevery one of the vertically spaced vertical-support apertures 24 a-f.The projection remains in place after securing of the fasteners 27fixing of the horizontal and vertical supports. In a first embodiment ofFIGS. 4 and 5 the fixing plate 32 comprises a plate member 34 having thelinear array of three evenly spaced fixing points 28 and 29 a-b.Expending orthogonally from one edge of the plate member 34 is a sideflange member 35 providing rigidity to the plate member 34. Theprojection pin 28 is a pin extending through an aperture in the platemember 34 and secured by a head 33 on the hack of the plate member 34.The flange apertures 26 a-b are backed by threaded fixing nuts 30 a-battached to the plate member 34 by welding or similar means. In otherembodiments the flange apertures 26 a-b may be internally threaded toavoid the need for fixing nuts 30 a-b, or may be unthreaded aperturesfor accommodating self-tapping fasteners.

FIGS. 6 through 8 show a second embodiment of a connection between ahorizontal shelf support member 20 a-d, 21 a-d and a vertical shelfsupport member 12 a-d. Elements bearing similar numbers to thoseelements described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 5 are likeelements. The difference in the second embodiment is the fixing plate38, which instead of a side flange member 35 providing rigidity to theplate member 34, the second fixing flange 38 has a top flange 36extending orthogonally from a top edge of the plate member 34. Allapertures in the first or second embodiments may also be oval or oblongto provide fit tolerances and aid alignment of the apertures. In someembodiments the fixing plate may have no side flange and may only have asingle projection pin and single fastener fixing point as illustrated inFIGS. 9 to 17 and 35 to 97, in which broken lines are included for thepurpose of illustrating environment and form no essential part of thethird fixing plate.

FIGS. 9 through 17 show various alternative embodiments of a fixingflange for a shelving unit having different types of handles forhandling the fixing flange. These various embodiments are given by wayof example only and the invention is not limited to the exact details ofconstruction and the arrangements of elements detailed in theseembodiment. The invention is capable of being practiced in otherembodiments or carried out in various other ways. The embodiments ofFIGS. 9, 10 and 11 have cylindrical projections 33 a that acts as ahandle for handling the fixing plate. The embodiments of FIGS. 12 to 15have a longitudinal handle 39. In FIGS. 12 and 13 the longitudinalhandle 39 is a wire handle. In FIGS. 14 and 15 the longitudinal handle39 has a plate element 40 to provide an additional grip surface. Theembodiments of FIGS. 12 to 15 have a latitudinal handles 414 a to 41 b.The latitudinal handles 41 may be wire or plate type handles and theremay be one or two such handles spaced apart longitudinal on the fixingflange. In the various embodiments of FIGS. 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16 thefixing points 29 a-b comprises threaded fixing apertures into whichfasteners 27 can threadably engage directly. In the various embodimentsof FIGS. 11, 13, 15 and 17 the two fixing points 29 a-b comprises fixingapertures backed by threaded fixing nuts 30 a-b. The FIGS. 20 through 97show various designs of a fixing flange for a shelving unit. Theelements shown in broken lines in the figures (FIGs) are included forthe purpose of illustrating environment and form no part of the claimeddesign for the fixing plate.

1. A shelving unit comprising: a horizontal support member, a verticalsupport member, a fastener for securing the horizontal support member tothe vertical support member, wherein the horizontal support member issecurable at any one of a plurality of vertical locations along thevertical support member, the vertical support member has a linear arrayof evenly spaced apertures at the vertical locations, and the horizontalsupport member has a support flange with a linear array of flangeapertures, and a backing plate having a linear array of evenly spacedfixing points, wherein at least one of the fixing points includes aprojection for occupying a corresponding one of the apertures and acorresponding one of the flange apertures, and at least one of thefixing points has a threaded fixing aperture, and a threaded fastenerthreadedly securable to the backing plate in the fixing aperture whileoccupying the corresponding one of the apertures and the correspondingone of the flange apertures.
 2. The shelving unit of claim 1, includingtwo threaded fasteners, wherein the vertical support member has at leastthree evenly spaced apertures at the vertical locations, the supportflange has two evenly spaced support apertures, the backing plate has atleast three evenly spaced fixing points and at least two of the fixingpoints are evenly spaced threaded fixing apertures and the two threadedfasteners are threadedly securable to the fixing apertures, whileoccupying two of the flange apertures and the apertures, with theprojection occupying another of the apertures.
 3. The shelving unit ofclaim 1, wherein the projection remains in one of the apertures duringfixing of the horizontal and vertical support members to each other withthe threaded fastener.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A backing plate for receivingand engaging a threaded fastener to secure a horizontal support memberto a vertical support member of a shelving unit, wherein the horizontalsupport member is securable at any one of a plurality of verticallocations along the vertical support member, the vertical support memberhas a linear array of evenly spaced apertures at the vertical locations,the backing plate has a linear array of evenly spaced fixing points, atleast one of the fixing points of the backing plate includes aprojection for occupying a first selected aperture of the apertures inthe vertical support member, and at least one of the fixing points ofthe backing plate includes threads for engaging the threaded fastenerpassing through a second selected aperture of the apertures in thevertical support member and an aperture in the horizontal support memberwhile the projection occupies the first selected aperture in thevertical support member.
 6. The backing plate of claim 5, wherein thefixing point including threads comprises a threaded hole in the backingplate.
 7. The backing plate of claim 5, wherein the fixing pointincluding threads comprises a hole in the backing plate and a threadedfixing nut attached to the backing plate and aligned with the hole. 8.The backing plate of claim 5, further including a handle attached to thebacking plate, and extending in a direction opposite from theprojection.
 9. A shelving unit comprising: a vertical support memberhaving a linear vertical array of a plurality of uniformly spaced apartapertures, wherein adjacent apertures are spaced apart by an interval; ahorizontal support member having a support flange with a pair of flangeapertures separated by the interval and alignable with respective pairsof the apertures in the vertical support member; a backing plate havinga linear array of first, second, and third uniformly spaced apart fixingpoints, wherein the fixing points are spaced apart by the interval, thefirst fixing point is a projection projecting outward from the backingplate for occupying a corresponding aperture of the vertical supportmember, and the second and third fixing points are fixing apertures inthe backing plate; a threaded fastener passing through an aperture ofthe vertical support member and a flange aperture of the flange o=of thehorizontal support member that is aligned with the aperture of thevertical support member and threadedly engaging one of the fixingapertures of the backing plate for securing the horizontal supportmember to the vertical support member, with the vertical support membersandwiched between the flange of the horizontal support member and thebacking plate.
 10. The shelving unit of claim 9, further including ahandle attached to the backing plate, and extending in a directionopposite from the projection.
 11. The shelving unit of claim 9, whereinat least one of the second and third fixing points of the backing plateis a fixing aperture including threads for threadedly engaging thefastener.
 12. The shelving unit of claim 11, further including a handleattached to the backing plate, and extending in a direction oppositefrom the projection.
 13. The shelving unit of claim 9, wherein at leastone of the second and third fixing points of the backing plate is athreaded fixing nut attached to the backing plate and aligned with oneof the second and third fixing points for threadedly engaging thefastener.
 14. The shelving unit of claim 13, further including a handleattached to the backing plate, and extending in a direction oppositefrom the projection.
 15. The shelving unit of claim 14, wherein thehandle and the fixing nut are commonly attached to a back face of thefixing plate.